15 Chapter 15

Akihara Kagura, this child, is a bit abnormal.

Danzo Shimura never thought that raising children would be this difficult.

After all, the way Danzo Shimura has always raised children was to take a group of mentally healthy kids, raise them together, let them grow up together, then let them fight each other and transform into somewhat mentally disturbed assassins...

Now, faced with a child who is excessively mentally disturbed, Danzo Shimura suddenly finds it a bit challenging, fearing that this child might cause some trouble.

However...

Danzo Shimura couldn't criticize.

Because this child is always protecting him.

"I need to go out for a while."

After thinking for a while, Danzo Shimura decided to first go to the Hokage building to probe Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions. His gaze turned to Akihara Kagura: "A, you rest in the base."

"Huh?"

The boy seemed a bit surprised, couldn't help but raise his head to look at the old man: "Danzo-sama, didn't you say that I was to be your guard? I can definitely protect your safety!"

"Follow the orders."

Danzo Shimura greatly appreciates the loyalty of this child.

However, the old man still rejected the boy's proposal with a single sentence.

Danzo Shimura knew clearly, if he went to the Hokage building, there's a high chance he would quarrel with the monkey (Hiruzen), he was a bit afraid that this child might attack the Hokage on the spot at the Hokage building.

Hokage building.

Danzo Shimura hurriedly arrived here, mainly to probe Hiruzen Sarutobi's covetous intentions towards Akihara Kagura, so as to be prepared in advance.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi really wants to take the opportunity of the Chunin exams to snatch away Akihara Kagura, Danzo Shimura can only... endure it.

Of course!

He definitely has to have a good quarrel with him!

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi knows his old friend very well, when he saw Danzo Shimura walk into the Hokage's office, he directly handed Danzo a list of participants in the Chunin exams.

"What does this mean?"

Danzo Shimura took the list, his gaze briefly skimmed over it, landing on a name: "Uchiha Itachi? Participating in the Chunin exam alone?"

This name...

It had been flagged by Danzo Shimura a long time ago.

After all, Uchiha Itachi, who graduated early from the Ninja Academy, is considered the most talented child in peaceful times and is undoubtedly attracting a lot of attention.

Especially since Uchiha Itachi had a conflict with the Root organization and effortlessly defeated a member of the Root. This left a deep impression on Danzo Shimura!

At that time...

Uchiha Itachi was only eight!

Now, at ten, Uchiha Itachi has undoubtedly become even more outstanding!

Danzo Shimura quickly composed himself, entering into work mode: "I have heard of this child. With his strength, it is not difficult for him to pass the exam alone..."

"But this child is an Uchiha. Once he passes the Chunin exam alone, it will be unprecedented in Konoha. Those Uchihas..."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted Danzo Shimura, slowly lighting his pipe: "We cannot hold malice against others just because of a surname..."

"But..."

"We also cannot ignore the significance behind this surname."

Hiruzen Sarutobi never speaks clearly about anything, just walks to the window, looking deeply at Konoha: "The village is becoming increasingly unrestful, the conflicts between Uchihas and villagers are growing, and their relationship with the village is getting more tense..."

"Hmph, they should have been dealt with long ago."

Danzo Shimura snorted coldly, disregarding his old friend's compassion: "What you should do is to carry out the teacher's will and completely clean up the evil Uchihas..."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice immediately became serious, sternly saying: "Uchiha is also a part of Konoha, and there are some ninjas who carry on the will of fire... It has been so long since Kagami passed away that you have forgotten his name?"

Uchiha Kagami.

He was once their teammate, even helping them out of danger in times of crisis. Everyone considered him an excellent Konoha ninja.

Even the second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who was very hostile to the Uchiha clan, had to admit the excellence of Uchiha Kagami, believing that he had transcended narrow-minded tribalism.

Unfortunately.

Uchiha Kagami died young.

Even though Uchiha Kagami had been dead for many years, the will he left behind was still influencing the Uchiha clan, and his descendants, like him, were loyal to the village.

The current top ninja of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Shisui, is Kagami's descendant. Like his ancestor, he is trying to ease the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, and is striving to spread the Will of Fire within the Uchiha clan.

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi mention the name of an old friend, Danzo Shimura fell silent. Even he could not forget that old friend who had saved him many times.

After a long while.

Danzo Shimura still chose not to change his attitude.

"Kagami..."

"Is just a minority after all."

"You should have understood something a long time ago..."

"The village cannot bear the risk of a rebellion sparked by the Uchihas."

"Overlooking the danger of a wildfire because a small flame can warm is not a decision a Hokage should make. You have become weak..."

"Sarutobi, you will regret this."

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned back coldly, looking at his seemingly earnest adviser, and spoke calmly: "Even a small hope for peaceful resolution of conflicts should not be given up... Now, what you should do is execute orders."

"Hmph... What orders?"

"Isn't there still a Wood Release bloodline ninja in the Root?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze became sharp, staring intently at his old friend, his voice deep: "Rest assured, I'm just asking him to participate in the Chunin Exam. I won't move him out of Root..."

"Hmph..."

Danzo Shimura snorted, but his face relaxed.

Originally, Danzo Shimura was somewhat annoyed at Hiruzen Sarutobi's soft stance towards the Uchihas. Now knowing that Sarutobi was also soft towards his privately hoarded Wood Release bloodline...

Actually...

It's also good when this old friend is kind and soft-hearted.

Danzo Shimura was sure he could keep Kagura Akihara, the Wood Release bloodline ninja, under his command, and suddenly his mood brightened, feeling the future filled with hope again.

"I understand."

Danzo Shimura was very satisfied with his trip, taking the initiative to plan: "I will train him well, let him also participate in the Chunin Exam alone, so that Uchiha Itachi won't steal the limelight too much in the Chunin Exam, and also make those Uchihas behave a bit..."

"You arrange it yourself."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not nod, did not shake his head, did not say anything else, as if he had not just said anything.

"I'll leave first then."

Danzo Shimura was about to leave with his cane.

"Wait..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped him, calmly asking, "When did the child with the Wood Release bloodline appear? Is someone still conducting forbidden Hashirama cell transplantation experiments in the village, or is it Orochimaru's doing..."

"He's a child sent over from the orphanage!"

Danzo Shimura's eyes involuntarily widened, but he managed to calmly reply, "That child has already awakened the Wood Release. I've been nurturing him at the Root base..."

"Oh."

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to believe this explanation, sighing softly, "Then guide that child well, teach him to protect Konoha, and don't let him go down the wrong path..."